"In natural science the principles of truth ought to be confirmed by observations." (Linnaeus). "Though, preferably backed up by a series of high quality digital photos and video." (KerryBirding).

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Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Compelling case for Kerry Ivory Gulls

How many Ivory Gulls have been seen in Kerry?

If you go by the 'official' record, there are only two Kerry records of three birds, including this one (below) at Cromane for a few days in January 2014. The first Kerry record concerns two birds seen at Blennerville in February 1847, one of which was shot and which constituted the first Irish record.

Immature Ivory Gull, Cromane, 31st January 2014 (M.O'Clery).

However, irked by the unceremonious deletion of a 1931 record of Ivory Gull in Bangor by the Northern Ireland Birdwatchers association Rarities Committee, Anthony McGeehen set about finding out what he could about that and other Irish records of this ultra-rare Arctic Gull. The results are surprising, and will have a significant bearing on the number of potential Kerry records.

Finding Birds in Ireland - Second Edition

For more information and maps of Kerry sites and many other birding sites around Ireland, see the book Finding Birds in Ireland. It can be purchased from www.gillmacmillanbooks.ie, Amazon.co.uk, or on birdwatchireland.ie.